Moss Propagules Banks in a Secondary Subtropical Moist Forest in Puerto Rico: A First Description

Abstract

A bryophyte propagule bank serves as a source for population maintenance and survival, and many factors can influence these propagules' germination. However, it is unknown how soil depths affect propagules banks, their diversity and abundance overtime in a Neotropical forest. To understand such a paradigm, soil samples were obtained from different depths (0 -5 cm, 5 -10 cm, and 10 -15 cm) at Guajataca State Forest, Puerto Rico; then, they were transferred to the laboratory, cultured, and the amount of gametophytes from propagules present over a seven-month period were measured. Forest soil depth did affect the density of gametophytes. Gametophytes densities augmented overtime for almost all species. Two species mainly influenced the propagule production over time. Also, propagules can have a long-term germination potential for some species.